Staff fired, clinic temporarily closed following child abuse incident

Two employees of Physio Clinic in Hulhumale' have been fired, and the clinic has been temporarily shut down after an incident involving the alleged abuse of a child seeking therapy.

A statement released by the clinic stated that it was “deeply saddened” by the incident, calling it unacceptable and in violation of the clinic’s ethical standards and protocols.

The statement said that the clinic immediately dismissed the two staff members involved and reported the case to the police, providing all relevant video footage to assist with the investigation.

“Due to the severity of the incident, Physio Clinic has been temporarily closed,” the statement read.

The clinic said that its top priority is the safety and wellbeing of children and families who rely on its services. It stated that live monitoring of therapy rooms is standard practice and that parents are given the option to observe sessions, as part of a commitment to transparency and accountability.

“We take this matter very seriously and are committed to maintaining the highest standards of care. We will fully cooperate with the authorities and take all necessary measures to ensure safety, responsibility, and trust moving forward,” the statement said.

Police said that the incident occurred on May 5 and was reported on Saturday.

A video of the incident is now circulating on social media, showing a clinic employee chasing the child with a pair of scissors. The child is seen attempting to flee while another employee is present in the room.

Another child can also be seen seated at a nearby table during the incident.

Images showing injuries believed to have been caused by the scissors have also surfaced online.